Peppino Molinas & Figli Sugherificio dal 1920.
T +39 079 6780000
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Email: info@molinas.it
Sugherificio Molinas SPA
Località Ignazioni, 07023 Calangianus (SS), Sardinia – Italy
The guide for the correct use of the cork stopper for sparkling wine has been published by FederlegnoArredo. It’s a useful text, both for professionals and for all the wine lovers, who, thanks to this handbook, will be able to know every detail of the basic bottling process.
To achieve and maintain the levels of excellence of our sparkling wines, a quality product is requested, but, consequently, it’s necessary to safeguard the wine’s aromas with a correct bottling and corking. Even a single defect in any of these elements could seriously compromise the behaviour of the sparkling wine in the bottle, nullifying the wise work of the winemaker. The following are some excerpts from this precious handbook; if you want to read it in its full version, please visit the website www.federlegnoarredo.it.
DOWNLOAD FROM FEDERLEGNOARREDOIn specific T-Cork capper machines, the jaws must be possibly conical or truncated-cone and must be kept in perfect conditions of hygiene and integrity. The support and sliding surfaces must be intact, while the surfaces in contact with the cork stopper don’t have to be worn out, with smooth surfaces, free of rifling and chipping, even if of modest entity. Besides this, we the use of jaws requiring a limited lubrication is recommended to reduce the risk of contaminating T-Corks and bottles. With the appropriate devices provided by the manufacturer, it is necessary to check the final closing diameter, which must remain within values between 15 and 16 mm.
Another important control must be carried out on the area of support of the bottle mouthfinish to the plugs, which must be perfectly flat to allow the cylinder compensation spring to release the stress on the entire surface of the mouthfinish itself. Stress concentration gradients would be dangerous and critical and could generate glass microcracks. Further controls must be performed on the return springs for the reopening of the jaws, which must not show yielding, breakage or loss of elasticity.
Immediately following the corking, if inserted correctly, the cork stopper must be perfectly vertical, in line with the bottle and with the leading edge of the lower part not chipped. The few seconds that elapse between corking and wire-hooding (recovering pause) are normally sufficient for the elastic recovery of the cork stopper, so that the part introduced into the bottleneck can begin to settle down and exert sufficient radial force to counteract the further sinking during wire-hooding. In the wire-hooding operation, the elements to be checked are:
The further sinking of the cork stopper into the bottleneck, following the wire-hooding, depends on several parameters.
Those who tend to oppose, without being able to cancel it, are:
The parameters which, on the other hand, tend to accentuate the further introduction of the cork stopper during the wire-hooding process, are exactly opposite to those listed above.